Sunday, April 03, 2016

Liz Sly writes about Iraq

"It was also a significant triumph for Sadr, the heir to the legacy of one of Shiite Islam’s most revered religious families". What is a religious family in Shi`ite Islam, Ms. Sly? There is no such thing. I asked an expert on Shi`ite religious tradition to comment and he wrote to me: "I'm not sure what that means. The Sadr family has a tradition of scholars in it. How far that goes, I'm not sure. But one of the "most revered religious families" does not make much sense to my ears. What is a "religious family" supposed to mean other than a family with a tradition of scholars? What other families are 'revered religious families" in Shiite Islam? The Hakim family has a number of revered scholars in it. It would be more accurate to say it is a family with a tradition of scholars -- just as there are families with a business tradition."

Comic by Terry Furry, reproduced from "Heard the One About the Funny Leftist?" by Cris Thompson, East Bay Express

As'ad's Bio

As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants.

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